I enjoyed Thanksgiving so much, I never painted. So I'm posting this pastel painting I did last year. It was accepted into AVAA's 30th Anniversary Exhibit in the summer of 2007. The original has sold but I do have several very high quality giclee prints printed on a beautifully thick archival paper - which makes them look like originals! Happy to send larger images to review.

I was recently tagged by Kelley MacDonald, an art pal I met in Carol Marine's Santa Fe workshop. It's an honor to be tagged because it comes with sort of a blessing from the sender. It is an affirmation of friendship, good wishes and blog-love. So thanks for sharing the blog love, Kelley!!!

The Rules:

1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.

2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.

3. Tag 7 other bloggers at the end of your post (*including their blog link*) and comment on their blogs to let them know they have been tagged.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Happy to send a photo of this one framed. A favorite among my family members. Original post: Since boxes still surround me and I haven't been able to set up my easel, I am posting a painting I completed before moving. Love this one! I painted it in Laurel Daniel's plein air class and it was exhibited this summer in an AVAA juried show at the Scarborough Building in downtown Austin. As for the studio - the good news is my art board is up, and my next-to-the-easel table is up. Just have to set up my easel and buy new paints. I learned in Carol Marine's workshop that it's not optimum to buy paints with the word "hue" in them - it means they have added some filler to the paint preventing you from achieving the richest color. So bye-bye Cad Red Hue and Cad Yellow Hue! Hello cad red and cad yellow.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I did this little pastel still life in Dianne Grammer's class in 2005. It was a subject she set up, but I chose the composition. I must admit, she did help me with the values of the shadow. I love it! I am keeping this one for myself. Now for news on the home front: I am finally getting to my studio to organize it and get it operational. It will indeed take a couple of days until I can paint, but at least I've made it into this room now that the upstairs is organized! So, look for more new works to come. Thanks!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Well it's Nov. 4, election night. As I watch the historic returns, I realize it is also a good time to look forward to new beginnings in my world. Seems the perfect time to get my art blog going again. Here is a piece I did last year in Laurel Daniel's class, then came home and adjusted it in my studio. I gave this to a good friend as a gift but plan to do a larger version. It's inspired from a photo I took at Benzinger Vineyards while we were touring the Napa/Sonoma wine country in 2006.

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About Me

As an artist, I work in oil and pastel and paint a variety of subjects. Simplification of my subjects has revealed a love of abstraction. I move seamlessly between representation and abstract work, always focusing on composition, value, movement, color and texture. I work in my home studio in Austin and teach oil and acrylic painting lessons to children and adults. My color and shaped-inspired works have been exhibited in galleries, museums, public spaces and festivals around the US, and many have found their way into private collections.
I am also a spiritual person. These areas of my life overlap. Sometimes my angel "downloads" influence my art, and my art gives way to divine insights. When these fields cross, you may see cross posts! All good!! Feel free to visit Debbi's Angel Blog and Debbi Smith Rourke's Art Blog.